Morning by Morning—Daily Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays

Friday, May 18, 2018

Morning by Morning, May 18 - Go About "Doing Good"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You here in my heart and every moment of my day. ...

"Then Peter began to speak to them: 'I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him. You know the message He sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ-He is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how He want about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:34-38).

Lord Jesus, as You walked this earth as the Son of Man-in the nature of man, in the likeness of human flesh and blood-You were anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. And in Your power, You went about "doing good." Going about "doing good" didn't just mean helping little old ladies across the street, being kind to the cashier, or making a donation to the inner city mission. I'm sure You did all those things and more in Your own way as You were led by the Spirit to see what the Father was doing.

But for You, "doing good" also meant healing the broken and casting out demons to deliver them from evil in the anointing and abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. This is exactly what You said You would do and why God the Father had poured out the anointing of God the Holy Spirit upon You, declaring: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor!" (Luke 4:18-19)

Come, Holy Spirit. Anointed me with Your abiding presence to go about doing good today-not merely naturally, but also supernaturally. Not merely supernaturally, but also naturally. May I be an authentic ambassador and disciple to represent Your name with Your nature, with the authority of the name of Jesus on my lips and the character of the nature of Jesus in my heart. "We are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). As You are, so are we to be in our world (1 John 4:17). Just as the Father sent You, so You send us (John 20:21).

I can't do any of that in my power, but only in Your power. Apart from You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). But I thank You that I'm never apart from You (Matthew 28:20). You are "Lord of all" and Lord of my heart (Acts 10:36). So You have empowered me with Your Spirit-"the Spirit of Christ" within me (Romans 8:9). And the same Spirit that raised You from the dead is the same Spirit who lives in me (Romans 8:11). Now by God's grace and Spirit of God, anointing me and empowering me, may I boldly and faithfully go about "doing good" for Your glory today. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

My friend, I pray you go about "doing good" both naturally and supernaturally today with the authority of the name of Jesus on your lips and the character of the nature of Jesus in your heart, in Jesus' name! Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!